Siena men shut out on MAAC first unit

Women fare better as Grenci makes first team

Published 7:35 pm, Monday, March 4, 2013

Following a dismal regular season, the Siena men's basketball team failed to put a player on the all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference first team for the first time since 2005.

Senior forward O.D. Anosike was chosen to the second team when the all-league teams were announced Monday, his impressive rebounding totals likely overshadowed by the Saints' 7-23 record.

Ninth-seeded Siena will face No. 8 Marist in the first round of the MAAC Tournament at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

On the women's side, Siena senior forward Lily Grenci earned first-team honors, making her eligible for MAAC Player of the Year when that award is announced on Thursday in Springfield, Mass., the location of the league tournament.

Grenci is the seventh Siena woman to make the all-MAAC first team more than once.

Anosike won't have the same opportunity even though he's averaging a double-double and battling for his second straight Division I rebounding title. His 11.4 rebounds per game are just behind national leader Andre Roberson (11.5) of Colorado.

"Well, obviously, I would love to have seen him make the first team," Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro said. "O.D. had a terrific year, obviously. How much your record plays into it, I don't know. You look at his rebound numbers, they've been phenomenal. Remember now, he's been getting double-teamed every game and he's playing on a team where we've had problems scoring the ball."

Anosike and Grenci were the only Siena players to earn all-conference honors on Monday.

Anosike made the first team last season and was chosen to this year's preseason first team in November.

Siena had placed at least one player on the first team for seven straight seasons, tied with former MAAC member La Salle (1986-92) for the longest streak in conference history.

Anosike, who leads the Saints in scoring at 12.9 points per game, said over the weekend he didn't care whether the MAAC coaches voted him on the first team.

"To be honest with you, it really doesn't matter to me," Anosike said. "I think my success this year doesn't get quantified by where coaches pick me. Whether they pick me first, second or third team, I think I've had a great year, both individually and with the team's success, given the circumstances. So to me, none of that really matters. All I'm concerned with is trying to play well down the stretch and get wins for my team."